There's no joke here. The 35-W bridge which collapsed last August is ready to open to actual traffic next week.
Bob Collins, personality that he is on The Current, asks just how in the hell we should celebrate the occasion.
First off, I feel any sort of pomp and circumstance which tends to, in cases like this, turn in to some huge political spectacle in which persons across the political aisle bitch back and forth about who paid for all those damned balloons isn't called for here.
Sure, the reconstruction effort is nothing short of a modern day miracle in this age of red tape and political congratulation come masturbation. The reason, though, that the reconstruction happened so mind-bendingly fast is that there were truckloads of incentives (ca$h) up for grabs if they (the construction company) got the job done early. And they have. Good for them, good for us.
It's time to realize that this isn't a time to celebrate. Not at all. It's a time to reflect. It's a time to remember those thirteen folks who lost their lives last August. It's time to acknowledge the heroes from that day who aided the injured while injured themselves. It is not time, though, for self-congratulation. This should be a lesson. A lesson that when politics are set aside, things get done because people actually work together.
No one person deserves congratulations for the speedy reconstruction and no one person deserves blame for what is becoming a domino effect of failure of our state's infrastructure. Remember and learn from the past, live in the now and plan for the future because the future is what will become tomorrow's now.
Yes, MinnPics did feature a photo on August 1st from last year's Interstate 35W bridge collapse and check there frequently this week as I take a break here... maybe.
UPDATE: Today is also September 11th, read my take on that fateful day's events which I wrote two years ago.
5 comments:
I totally agree with you. Why should there be a celebration for doing something that should have been done the correct way years ago? Why celebrate for doing the bare minimum?
Sadly, there will be celebration and politicians taking credit.
I just hope there won't be any more bridges falling.
I'm sure it will be a self-congratulation fest to beat the band, unfortunately.
I would like to see a quiet, understated and reverent bridge opening in this case. So many people are still dealing with medical issues, grief and a newfound fear of driving on bridges that I think it would be best to keep it low-key, but I doubt that will happen.
ya know what....I don't know....but I'd be a little scared driving on that bridge.
I think reflecting is a better approach. I have always ALWAYS had a fear of bridges, so I can guarandamntee you that I would be doing everything in my power to avoid not only that bridge but the other bridges there that have the same yahoos working on them.
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